{"id":72896,"date":"2026-05-13T09:06:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T08:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/?p=72896"},"modified":"2026-05-13T09:06:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T08:06:29","slug":"from-student-to-creator-entrepreneur-key-lessons-on-content-brand-deals-and-building-a-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/from-student-to-creator-entrepreneur-key-lessons-on-content-brand-deals-and-building-a-team\/","title":{"rendered":"From Student to Creator-Entrepreneur: Key Lessons on Content, Brand Deals, and Building a Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article condenses a campus fireside chat featuring&nbsp;<strong>Ayan Broomfield<\/strong>&nbsp;(tennis athlete turned creator and founder) and&nbsp;<strong>Olandria Carthen<\/strong>&nbsp;(model and TV personality) on turning visibility into a long-term brand. The conversation blends practical routines, strategy, and mindset\u2014aimed at students navigating the creator economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who Was on Stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ayan Broomfield:<\/strong>\u00a0Toronto-born, played Division I tennis on scholarship at UCLA, then pursued professional tennis and expanded into content. She also launched\u00a0<strong>Ayan\u2019s Aces<\/strong>, a foundation initiative focused on expanding access for women of color in sports.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Olandria Carthen:<\/strong>\u00a0Built a large community after reality TV exposure (\u201cThe Villa\u201d in the transcript). She describes transitioning from a traditional job to full-time platform building and brand partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Content Creation Became \u201cReal\u201d Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Olandria describes starting content before the show, including a small \u201capartment series\u201d on TikTok that performed well\u2014but also revealed a constraint: editing time. Her conclusion was straightforward: if content is the business, you may need to&nbsp;<strong>hire help<\/strong>&nbsp;or build a system to sustain output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the show, she says she recognized quickly that the audience support could become a long-term career\u2014if she avoided becoming a \u201cflash in the pan\u201d and instead turned the platform into something durable and values-driven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Daily Routine: Staying Grounded When the Schedule Is Chaos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Olandria emphasizes that every day looks different (events, shoots, travel), so routines are less about perfection and more about anchors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Phone first:<\/strong>\u00a0checking in with family and friends, acknowledging time sacrificed with them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Journaling + self-talk:<\/strong>\u00a0setting small milestones for the day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Music as mood control:<\/strong>\u00a0sometimes starting mornings with gospel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brand Partnerships: Why Saying \u201cNo\u201d Is Part of the Job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both speakers return to the same filter:&nbsp;<strong>alignment<\/strong>. Olandria argues that audiences can tell when deals are only \u201cmoney grabs,\u201d so she prioritizes partnerships that match her values and fit a coherent message over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the transcript, she points to education-related work and repeated collaborations (rather than one-off posts) as the pathway to turning a moment into a&nbsp;<strong>multi-year brand relationship<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Team Building: Avoiding \u201cUnicorn Sellers\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Olandria describes being approached by many would-be managers and advisors after gaining visibility. Her selection criteria centered on realism and strategic clarity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look for people who can say\u00a0<strong>\u201cwe can build toward this\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0rather than guaranteeing outcomes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build a team with\u00a0<strong>different strengths<\/strong>\u00a0(communication, styling, brand strategy, logistics).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take time to evaluate\u2014she says it took about\u00a0<strong>a month<\/strong>\u00a0of meetings to choose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Momentum Management: Turning Attention Into a \u201cNext Move\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked how she stays one step ahead, Olandria answers with honesty: fear. Quitting a stable paycheck created urgency and forced her to bet on herself. Her approach is to make every move connect to a larger narrative, so the audience can see the logic (education focus \u2192 partnerships and events that reinforce that brand pillar).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Five-Year Plan and \u201cMoves That Make Sense\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her advice to students is explicit: write a five-year vision and break it into&nbsp;<strong>monthly goals<\/strong>. She frames \u201cmanifestation\u201d as repetition plus action\u2014saying what you want, then taking steps that reinforce the direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Collaboration vs. Solo Grinding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On whether creators should collaborate or build alone, she argues both are true depending on context:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Collaboration<\/strong>\u00a0can amplify voices\u2014especially for groups underrepresented in high-status spaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Solo execution<\/strong>\u00a0is sometimes required when collaboration isn\u2019t available or when you must prove independent capability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outgrowing People, Guilt, and \u201cYou\u2019re Not Doing All This Work to Stay the Same\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chat openly addresses the emotional side of growth: being labeled \u201cdifferent,\u201d feeling guilt about leaving people behind, and navigating rooms where you wonder if you belong. Olandria\u2019s stance is that change is expected\u2014growth means new environments, new standards, and sometimes new circles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rapid-Fire Highlights (Practical + Human)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tool she can\u2019t live without:<\/strong>\u00a0Microsoft Copilot (for organization).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Homebody vs city:<\/strong>\u00a0homebody; in bed early.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content format preference:<\/strong>\u00a0static carousel photos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Outfit philosophy:<\/strong>\u00a0outfit repeater; practical cost awareness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Q&amp;A Themes: What Students Asked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Most impactful project:<\/strong>\u00a0a Barbie partnership described as meaningful representation for young Black girls.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How to pinpoint a brand:<\/strong>\u00a0start with one core pillar (education was her example), then set small lane goals (fashion, acting, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Failure\u2019s role:<\/strong>\u00a0setbacks force reflection and tighten strategy; the claim is that it helps you handle success with care later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ambition vs breaks:<\/strong>\u00a0both speakers admit the balance is hard; momentum makes rest feel risky, but grounding habits matter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Becoming articulate:<\/strong>\u00a0adaptability, learning to \u201cspeak the room\u2019s language\u201d while still standing out; education and sport environments shaped this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778221076590\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Q: What was the biggest practical takeaway?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong>\u00a0Build a clear core message (a brand pillar), then only take partnerships and projects that reinforce it.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778221088796\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Q: Do you need a team to be a creator?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong>\u00a0Not at the beginning, but the speakers argue that scaling often requires help\u2014especially for editing, strategy, and coordination.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778221102099\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Q: Is \u201cmanifestation\u201d the strategy?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong>\u00a0In context, it\u2019s presented as vision + repeated intent + consistent actions, not wishful thinking alone.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778221113674\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Q: Is this career advice guaranteed to work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>A:<\/strong>\u00a0No.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article condenses a campus fireside chat featuring&nbsp;Ayan Broomfield&nbsp;(tennis athlete turned creator and founder) and&nbsp;Olandria Carthen&nbsp;(model and TV personality) on turning visibility into a long-term brand. The conversation blends practical routines, strategy, and mindset\u2014aimed at students navigating the creator economy. Who Was on Stage When Content Creation Became \u201cReal\u201d Work Olandria describes starting content before &#8230; <a title=\"From Student to Creator-Entrepreneur: Key Lessons on Content, Brand Deals, and Building a Team\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/from-student-to-creator-entrepreneur-key-lessons-on-content-brand-deals-and-building-a-team\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about From Student to Creator-Entrepreneur: Key Lessons on Content, Brand Deals, and Building a Team\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":72898,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[261,147,124],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-en","category-everything-you-need-to-know","category-how-to-succeed-in-the-workplace"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72896"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72897,"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72896\/revisions\/72897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hk.whatjobs.com\/career-advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}